Top 10 Code 95 Exam Questions and Successful Strategies: Complete 2026 Guide

The Code 95 exam (Preliminary Qualification) in Poland consists of 30 test questions: 20 basic and 10 specialized for category C or D. Core topics include work and rest hours (tachograph), cargo securing, traffic rules for heavy vehicles, eco-driving, and first aid. To pass successfully, you must make no more than 4 mistakes in the basic section and no more than 5 in the specialized one. The exam is mandatory only for those taking the ‘long course’ (preliminary qualification); drivers with category C licenses issued before September 10, 2009, do not need to take the test.

What is Code 95 and why is it essential for driving?

In 2026, requirements for professional drivers in the European Union remain strict. Code 95 is not just a formal entry in column 12 of a driving license. It is a certificate of professional competence (Professional Qualification Certificate), without which legal employment as a driver of vehicles over 3.5 tons is impossible in Europe.

Who needs to take the exam? In Poland, there is a clear distinction that often confuses newcomers:

Long course (Preliminary Qualification): Lasts about 280 hours. Mandatory for young drivers and those who obtained their category C license after September 10, 2009. This specific course concludes with a state exam at a WORD center.
Short course (Periodic Training): Lasts 35 hours. Intended for the ‘old guard’ (licenses before 2009) or for renewing an existing Code 95 every 5 years. There is no exam here – once the course is completed, you receive the certificate.

If you fall into the ‘Long Course’ category, you will need to visit an exam center. No need to worry: at our ‘Mark’s Code 95’ driving school, we have prepared a detailed breakdown of the topics that are guaranteed to appear on your test.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the 10 key question blocks where candidates most often fail.

1. Traffic Rules and Signs: Specifics for Heavy Vehicles

Many people think: “I know the rules, I have a license.” The mistake is that the exam doesn’t test the knowledge of a car driver, but the specifics of managing a 40-ton vehicle.

What specifically is being asked:

Speed limits: You will be caught on differences. For example, on a highway in Poland for cars – 140 km/h, and for trucks – 80 km/h.
Prohibitory signs: Knowing the difference between B-5 signs (truck entry prohibited) and actual weight or axle load limit signs.
Blind spots and maneuvering: Priority rules for a wide turn radius when a truck occupies two lanes.

Practical advice: Read the question carefully. If they ask about ‘populated areas at night’ or ‘residential areas’, recall specific Polish limits. Train your attention to bridge height signs – this is a frequent cause of real accidents and a popular question in tests.

2. Tachograph and work and rest periods (RTO)

This is the “heart” of a truck driver’s work and the most difficult section for beginners. EU Regulation 561/2006 is your bible.

Key points in the tests:

Breaks: Driving 4.5 hours -> break 45 minutes. Can the break be split? Yes, into 15 and 30 minutes (strictly in this order).
Daily rest: Standard — 11 hours, reduced — 9 hours (but no more than 3 times between weekly rest periods).
Weekly rest: 45 hours (regular) and 24 hours (reduced). You will be asked when the reduction needs to be compensated.

Device operation nuances: You may be asked about the symbols on the tachograph screen (bed, hammers, steering wheel, square) and what to do if the tachograph breaks down on the road (manual recording on the back of the printout tape).

3. Actions in Emergency Situations

Europe requires the driver to be not just a “driver,” but a rescuer in an emergency situation.

Question scenarios:

Fire in a tunnel or parking lot.
Brake system depressurization.
Providing first aid (ABC algorithm: Airway, Breathing, Circulation).

Algorithm of actions:

The golden rule of the exam and of life: Stop -> Secure the scene -> Call for help -> Assist. Remember the emergency service numbers: the unified number 112 works everywhere, but knowing the specifics of the call (first «WHERE», then «WHO» and «WHAT») will earn you extra points.

4. Occupational Health and Safety (BHP)

The driver’s health is capital. The questions in this block concern ergonomics and injury prevention outside the cab.

Key focus areas:

Correct seating position: How to adjust the air suspension seat to avoid back pain and leg numbness.
Exiting the cab: Jumping is prohibited. Only the «three points of contact rule» (two hands, one foot or vice versa), facing the cab. This may seem like a small detail, but it is the correct answer in the test.
PPE: When it is mandatory to wear a helmet, vest and steel-toed boots (usually during loading/unloading).

5. Technical Structure: What the Driver Must Know

You do not need to be a garage-level mechanic, but you are required to understand the operating principles of systems that affect safety.

Top topics:

Pneumatic brake system: What air tanks (receivers) are, how to check the pressure, why to drain the condensate (if there is no air dryer).
ABS and ESP: How these systems help on a slippery road and what to do if the warning light
Fluids: AdBlue (what happens if it runs out — power limitation), oil, antifreeze.

Tip from «Kod 95 u Marka»: During practical classes we always open the hood and show the dipsticks and reservoirs. The exam often asks about the «Daily Inspection» (OC — Obsługa Codzienna). Remember the list: tires, headlights, mirrors, fluids, absence of air leaks.

6. Eco-Driving

European companies are obsessed with ecology and fuel economy. A driver who burns extra fuel is unprofitable.

What is asked:

Green zone of the tachometer: In which RPM range the engine is most efficient.
Inertia: Use of coasting (with gear engaged!) and engine brake (retarder/intarder).
Impact of factors: How fuel consumption is affected by a flat tire, an open window, a poorly secured tarpaulin (aerodynamics).

You are tested on understanding the physics of the process: fewer brakings = fewer accelerations = less fuel.

7. Risk Assessment and Difficult Weather Conditions

A professional is distinguished by the ability to anticipate.

Topics of questions:

Aquaplaning and «Black Ice»: How to recognize and how to act (smoothly reduce speed, avoid sharp steering movements).
Side wind: Especially dangerous when exiting a tree line or tunnel into open space and onto bridges. An empty truck can simply be blown over.
Vulnerable road users: Cyclists and pedestrians in «blind spots» when turning right.

8. Cargo Securing

One of the most important blocks, as mistakes here are costly (ITD fines are enormous).

What you need to know:

Forces of physics: Inertia during braking (the load tends to move forward with a force of 0.8 of its weight) and on turns (0.5 of weight).
Securing methods: Pressure (docisk) and blocking (blokowanie). How many belts are needed for a specific load (EN 12195-1 standard).
Equipment: Corner protectors, anti-slip mats (maty antypoślizgowe) — their use in the test is always the correct answer, as they increase friction.

Legal Regulations and Documents

Bureaucracy is part of the job. You must know which papers to show the inspector.

List of documents for the exam:

Driver’s license with code 95.
Driver card (for the tachograph).
CMR (International Waybill) – who fills it out, what the driver is responsible for (checking the number of packages and the condition of the packaging).
Transport license (extract).

Questions may also concern liability: who pays the fine for overloading (usually the carrier, but if the driver did not control the load distribution — there may be nuances).

10. Image, Stress and Health

The modern driver is the face of the company.

Psychological aspect:

How to deal with monotony and fatigue.
The effect of medications and alcohol (including residual alcohol).
Conflict management: how to handle an aggressive client or road user.

In the tests, correct answers always come down to safe, calm and lawful behavior. Aggression or risk for the sake of speed — is always the wrong answer.

How to prepare and pass on the first attempt?

Passing the exam at WORD is stressful, but manageable. Statistics show that 85% of prepared candidates pass the theory test on the first attempt.

3 steps to success:

Don’t memorize — understand. The logic of questions about the tachograph or cargo securing is always based on safety. If you don’t know the exact answer, choose the one that is most safe.
Use the official question bank. At our driving school we provide access to the current question bank translated into Russian/Ukrainian (the exam in Poland can be taken in Russian with a sworn interpreter, or in Polish if you speak the language).
Practice is decisive. Ask the instructor to show how the retarder actually works or how to properly tighten the ratchet strap. Muscle memory will help on the test.

Conclusion

The Code 95 exam is your pass into the world of high European salaries. The test topics are extensive: from mechanics to psychology, but all of them are taken from the real life of a driver.

If you want not just to «buy a certificate», but to gain real knowledge, pass the exam legally and feel confident on the roads from Lisbon to Warsaw — come to Startruck («Kod 95 u Marka»).

We take care of all the bureaucracy:

Driver profile registration (PKZ).
Medical and psychological examination on site.
Exam registration at WORD.
Quality training in an understandable language.

Start your career the right way. The road loves professionals!

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

What language is the exam conducted in?

The exam is conducted in Polish. However, at our school we prepare groups to take the exam with a sworn interpreter, which makes the process accessible for Russian-speaking drivers.

How long is Code 95 valid?

The certificate is issued for 5 years. After that, a 35-hour retraining course must be completed (no exam required).

Is the test difficult?

The passing threshold is quite lenient. You need to answer correctly 16 out of 20 basic questions and 5 out of 10 specialized questions. With proper preparation this is more than achievable.